 – view prison as brief, inevitable break in one’s criminal career  – take advantage of prison programs to improve future prospects  – withdraw from outside world and construct new life within prison  – cannot adjust to prison life (may develop emotional disorders, attempt suicide, and violate prison rules)

 Psychological issues ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

 Four issues that would lead to hell in a private prison: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

 Formal and informal orientations ◦ Prisoners here were warned about the violence ahead of time…   ◦ “It was greater than I ever saw anywhere in the state system.” (Carceral 2006:46)  Rise of the “beat-down crews”

 Free movement within the walls  Guards enforced the “wrong” rules ◦  A lack of consistency with in-prison punishments  Rise in prisoner-on-prisoner theft

 Disciplinary vs. Administrative segregation ◦ ◦

 Help administrators deal with problem of time on prisoners’ hands  ◦ Committee evaluates inmate’s security level, treatment needs, work assignment, and readiness for release ◦ Often based on institution’s needs rather than those of inmates  Many educational and treatment programs accused of coddling inmates

 Educational programs ◦ ◦ Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1994 bans federal funding to prisoners for postsecondary education ◦

 Vocational education ◦ ◦ ◦

 Prison industries ◦ ◦ ◦

 Rehabilitative programs ◦ Seek to treat personal defects thought to have brought about inmate’s criminality ◦

 Medical services ◦ ◦ ◦

 HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and venereal diseases overrepresented in prison populations  Raises concerns because ◦ ◦ ◦

 HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and venereal diseases overrepresented in prison populations  Raises concerns because  Most inmates are asymptomatic  Courts largely refuse to interfere with segregation and testing policies

 Elderly prisoners ◦ Increasing in number ◦ Have medical and security needs that differ from those of average inmate ◦ More likely to develop chronic illnesses (e.g., heart disease, stroke, cancer) ◦ Costs of maintaining an elderly inmate are triple the average cost

 Mentally ill prisoners ◦ Community treatment works only if they take their medication ◦ More mentally ill are in jail and prison than in state hospitals ◦ Some inmates benefit from regular medication in jail or prison, but others suffer from stress of confinement

 Have “store” where inmates may purchase items in exchange for credits drawn on their “bank accounts”  Number of items prisoners can purchase/receive through legitimate channels has increased  Informal, underground economy also exists  Standard currency is usually:

 Annually, about 27,000 assaults by inmates and about 15,000 assaults against staff take place  Prison violence results from ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

 Factors that contribute to prison violence ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

◦ ◦ ◦

 Fights vs. Assaults ◦ ◦  Generally two-sided, blowing off steam, racism, spur of the moment ◦ Assaults    The choice for the victim

 Enterprise had ◦  Increases prisoner abuse  Increased number of mistakes due to inexperience  Can make the corporation look better

 How staff inexperience leads to violence ◦

 Division of violent offenders ◦ ◦ ◦  ◦ Age ◦ Attitudes ◦ Race

 How to stop the violence ◦ Provide the basic necessities required to live in prison (see Carceral)    ◦ Treat inmates like human beings

 Stephen Donaldson ◦ Arrested for trespassing after participating in pray- in at White House ◦ President of Stop Prisoner Rape  Prison Rape Elimination Act (2003) ◦ Provides for development of better information about nature and incidence of rape and sexual assault in prisons ◦ Provides funding to correctional authorities to reduce and control sexual violence in prisons  Evidence regarding prevalence of sexual assault remains mixed

 Most prison violence occurs between inmates  Prison gangs ◦ ◦ ◦  Protective custody ◦ May offer only way to escape further abuse

 Prisoner-officer violence ◦ Occurs in specific situations against certain individuals ◦ Officers do not carry weapons, but prisoners manage to obtain them

 Officer-prisoner violence ◦ Unauthorized physical violence by officers against inmates ◦ Cannot always supervise officers’ interactions with inmates ◦ Prisoner complaints often ignored until officer gains reputation for harshness